Deportees and violators outside UAE excluded from visa amnesty

UAE Clarifies Visa Amnesty: Only for Applicants Currently in the Country

ABU DHABI: The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) clarified on Tuesday that the two-month amnesty currently granted to violators of visa and residency rules will only apply to applicants in the UAE. Offer period on October 31.

The ICP confirmed that amnesty will not be granted to those who left the UAE before the deadline was announced on September 1 this year.

Two Options for Violators
ICP Director General Major General Suhail Saeed Al Khaili urged violators to take advantage of the amnesty to rectify their status, stressing that this grace period provides another opportunity to regularize their status by obtaining legal work with a valid visa. Exiting the UAE without penalty.

He clarified that a valid passport or a valid return document is required to obtain an exit permit. He advised violators who want to leave the UAE to book their departure tickets only after completing exit clearance procedures.

Exemptions for Deportees
Major General Al Khaili also clarified that persons subject to a criminal deportation decision by a competent court in the UAE cannot be included in the amnesty. This category of violators – deportees – are not eligible for the benefits and exemptions provided by the amnesty until their criminal files are resolved. He pointed out that specialized committees within the judicial authorities deal with cases of deportees and review requests for the lifting of criminal deportation orders.

Meanwhile, he added, a birth certificate and a valid passport or return document are required to regularize the status of visa-free children.